Lansing, Michigan – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is part of a group of states that is suing to stop the Trump Administration from halting billions of dollars in electric vehicle infrastructure financing that Congress legally approved under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program (NEVI), a $5 billion program set up by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), is at the heart of the complaint. The goal of the program is to speed up the building of EV charging stations throughout the country. This will make it easier and more dependable to drive in electric vehicles. NEVI gave Michigan over $87 million for the fiscal years 2022 to 2025. But right now, a big part of it, about $29 million, is still out of reach because of recent measures by the government.
On January 20, President Trump issued a directive to stop giving out money related to the IIJA and the Inflation Reduction Act. This action had a direct impact on the NEVI program. In February, the Federal Highway Administration did the same thing and told states that their previously authorized NEVI state plans would be canceled and that no more federal money would be available, even though Congress had told them to do the opposite.
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Attorney General Nessel said that halting the money was not only illegal, but it also hurt Michigan’s progress in creating its EV infrastructure.
“The Trump Administration’s decision to unilaterally cut off these funds is not only unlawful – it jeopardizes Michigan’s EV infrastructure, while threatening our economic growth and environmental progress,” Nessel said. “I will continue working to protect this critical funding and the future of transportation in our state.”
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A wide range of legal and business professionals from across the country are involved in the action, which is in federal court.
Attorney General Nessel is joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, as well as the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
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Their common concern is the possible long-term effects on state economies, climate goals, and the switch to sustainable transportation.
For Michigan, the delay in funding might limit the growth of a crucial charging network, which would hurt the EV market and put jobs at risk in a sector the state has put a lot of money into. As more car companies switch to electric models, people see reliable charging infrastructure as a critical factor in building consumer trust and long-term use.
This legal challenge could have a big impact on future cases. Not only is funding for EV infrastructure at issue, but so is the balance of power between Congress and the Executive Branch. This includes how future administrations will treat laws that have already been passed and supported by Congress.